News

Cabinet approves implementation of 8th stage of the interest free student loan scheme

Published

2 years ago

2024/09/3

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Higher Education to implement the following recommendations submitted by the committee appointed to submit the recommendations in respect of revising the fees payable to the non-governmental higher education institutes for the relevant courses under the said loan scheme.

• To revise the course fee from the 8th stage of the interest free student loan scheme as per the recommendations of the technological consultative committee appointed by the Ministry of Education.

• To obtain the collaboration of the National Savings Bank in addition to the Bank of Ceylon and Peoples Bank for the above loan scheme so as to minimize the financial risk bearable to one bank.

• To Implement of the said loan scheme subject to the minimum loan interest rate of 13% and 06 months AWPLR+1% percentage having conducted annual review.

• To enroll 7000 students per stage from 8 stage of the student loan scheme.

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News

Cabinet nod to accept Japanese government grant of 08 used low floorboard buses

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to accept 08 used low floorboard buses offered as a grant by the Government of Japan.

News

Payment of the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Yala season 2026.

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

While approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 18.08.2025 to pay the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Maha season 2025/26, the programme is planned to be continued for the Yala season 2026 as well.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to pay a financial subsidy of Rupees 25,000/- per hectare and for a maximum of 02 hectares per farmer for paddy cultivation and to pay Rupees 15,000/- per hectare for field crops cultivated in paddy lands[maximum of 02 hectares per farmer]

News

Ministerial Committee appointed to submit recommendations on proposed program to mitigate loss of crops to wild animals

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The rural agricultural livelihood and food security have been severely impacted due to the damage caused by wild animals such as elephants, wild boars, monkeys, toque macaque, squirrels, and peacocks roaming around human habitats and cultivated lands.

Animal-human conflicts and property destruction have mostly been reported around these areas, and serious social and economic issues have also arisen.

Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation has prepared a comprehensive program based on the opinions of all stakeholders, including the public, university community, farmers’ organizations, environmentalists, non-governmental organizations which work for environmental issues, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Development, and other relevant organizations.

Taking into consideration the report submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to appoint a ministerial committee with the participation of other relevant ministers, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, to submit appropriate recommendations on how the aforementioned program should be implemented by further reviewing the proposals included in the said program and incorporating new proposals.